Awning structures of rigid sheet material



2, 1955 J. DE MARTIN 2,714,233

AWNING STRUCTURES OF RIGID SHEET MATERIAL Filed June 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

QT'TOEN EY J. DE MARTIN AWNING STRUCTURES OF RIGID SHEET MATERIAL Aug. 2, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1951 INVENTOR. BY I Aug. 2, 1955 J. DE MARTIN 2,714,233

AWNING STRUCTURES OF RIGID SHEET MATERIAL Filed June 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

QTT'ORNEY Aug. 2, 1955 .1. DE MARTIN 2,714,233

AWNING STRUCTURES OF RIGID SHEET MATERIAL Filed June 16, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY nw @& U2

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. DE MARTIN AWNING STRUCTURES OF RIGID SHEET MATERIAL Aug. 2, 1955 Filed June 16, 1951 -r1 \QO I INVENTOR QM mJ no HTTOENEY AW'NING STRUCTURES 0F RiGiD SHEET MATERIAL Joseph De Martin, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application June 16, 1951, Serial No. 231,979

2 Claims. er. ze sis This invention relates to improvements in awning structures of rigid sheet material adapted for the shading of windows, porches and the like.

One of the objects of my invention is to enable the production from rigid sheet material, such as sheet metal, of an inexpensive, strong, durable and ventilated awning structure characterized by a firmly interlocked awning covering or outside section comprising a series of similar pairs of alternately-grooved interlocked strips, each pair having a rigid, longitudinally-disposed interlocking joint formed of longitudinally-disposed intereng'aging and interlocking edges comprising a reentrantly-bent groove member and a straight flange fitting Within said groove, said grooved and flange members being provided with registering holes and fastening members passing therethrough to securely fasten the strips together into a covering or outside section of an awning. These joints, when so fastened not only function as interlocking and covering-reinforcing joints between adjacent strip elements, but also comprise longitudinal supplementary frame elemen s, which when assembled provide a rigid foundation for and cooperate with a skeleton supporting frame in the sustaining of weight of the outside stripformed section to produce great rigidity in the assembled awning structure.

Another object of my invention is to produce an awning structure which will be composed of a minimum number of prefabricated units or parts capable of shipment in substantially fiat condition in a relatively small package and that may by unskilled persons be readily, quickly and easily assembled and connected together for erection at the site of use to provide a rigid, readily cleansable and ventilated awning structure. My releasable interlocking joint construction in prefabricated structures provides separable members for connection and fastening to form a rigid frame, such as the top or roof section and the side members as the other parts, all of which may, if desired, be initially prefabricated in completely assembled condition or may be shipped as parts capable of ready fastening together and to a building by relatively few and simple fastening elements, and thus to provide a completely-assembled awning structure of ornamental appearance and design.

Another object of my invention is to provide transverse skeleton frame members, to utilize a single fastening element to fasten these frame members to the strips and also to fasten the strip members to each other. A combined strip-formed covering or outside section and frame element may be thus formed to permit an easily and quickly detachable section that may be made to order of varying widths.

Still another object of my invention is to enable the production of an awning structure which will be so simple and easily erected that when shipped to the site of construction in knocked-dorm condition it may be readily and quickly applied to a building by a purchaser to produce a structure that will be strong, rigid and durable as well as ornamental in appearance.

2,714,233 Patented Aug. 2, 1955 With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises the combination of members and arrange ment of parts so combined as to co-act and cooperate with each other in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results herein contemplated, and comprises in one of its adaptations the species or preferred form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

l is a view in perspective of an awning embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the awning with a prefabricated roof section or part mounted on its frlame and the side ends separated therefrom;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a pair of cover- Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a clip employed to fasten my cover strips to the frame members;

1 1g. 5 is a longitudinal section showing said clip in Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of 9 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the ends of a pair of cover strips shown in Fig. 7;

. 1G is a section on the line 10--1ti of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

11 is a fragmentary section on the line 1111 of Fig. i, looking in the direction of the arrows and showing ventilating channels between the side cover members;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

' 13 is a fragmentary section on the line l3-13 of 14 is a view in transverse section showing another form of alternately-arranged cover strip members with an inverted narrow member having triple groove-forming edge-flan es to form a quadruple-layer joint;

1 is a view in side elevation of the form of ng element used in the awning of Fig. 7;

Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view of a form of cap and trough-forming strips having interlocking joints similar to Fig. 6 and showing my preferred form of fastening element;

Fig. 17 is a section on the line l7-17 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a section on the line 18-18 of Fig. 16;

i9 is a sectional illustrative view showing in separated condition the alternately-arranged members of Fig. 14;

Fig. 29 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 16 of a moditied form of strips; and

Fig. 21 is an illustrative view of still another modified form of cover strips.

Referring now to these drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments of my invention, and more specifically to Figs. 1 to 6 thereof, 1 indicates an assembled awning which preferably is composed of a single prefabricated roof unit or section 1 and two similar side sections or units l shown in assembled condition in Fig. l and in disassembled condition in Fig. 2.

Each roof unit is, as shown, composed of a series of interlocked exterior surface members composed of cap strips 2 and troughforming strips 3 alternately arranged and connected together by reinforcing interlocked joints which stiffen and reinforce the section or unit, and thus enable the structural parts of an awning to be made to order in various widths and to be produced from a few prefabricated and substantially flat unit-sections and a frame member.

The strips 2 and 3 have overlapped longitudinal edges comprising triple-layered longitudinally-disposed interengaging and interlocking joint portions which when connected and fastened together not only function as interlocking and reinforcing joints between adjacent panel elements, but also comprise longitudinal stiffening elements which supplement the usual frame elements. These joints when assembled thus cooperate with a prefabrication skeleton supporting frame hereinafter specified in the susraining of weight of the sections formed by the exterior members, cause a stiffening and rigidity of the assembled awning structure and provide desirable stiffening mem bers in prefabricated units, either with or without the skeleton frame shown in the prefabricated roof unit shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The alternately-arranged exterior surfacing members in the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 comprise a series of pairs of such cap and trough-forming strips 2 and 3 of sheet material. One of the members of this pair comprises the longitudinally-disposed strip member 2 of low height relatively to the cap member and is arranged in relation to cap 3 to provide an inwardly-disposed trough-forming surface 2 Said strip 2 is provided with outwardly-disposed interlocking grooves 2 formed by bending sheet material of its opposite edges and having lower edge portions adapted to abut against and to be supported on a prefabrication frame member 4. Thus, in the prefabricated roof unit shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the strip members 2 contact and are initially supported on a prefabrication frame comprising transverse intermediate members 4*, 4 transverse marginal members 44 and longitudinal marginal members 4 4 My trough-forming surface strip 2 is thus provided at each edge (see Figs. 2 and 6) with integral, double-folded interlocking elements 2 forming the grooves 2 which have entrances or mouths disposed outwardly and adapted to be interlocked with a series of alternately-positioned longitudinally-disposed cap-strip members 3 having at opposite edges inwardly-disposed flanges 3 of greater height than the depth of the interengaging grooves 2", thus providing on the external surface between each two cap members 3 an inwardly-disposed trough arranged at a different level and alternated with cap surfaces of the member 3 to produce draining channels along said external surface. Said inwardly-disposed single thickness edge flanges 3 are received in said outwardly opening interengaging grooves formed, as aforesaid, in said double folded flanges of the trough-forming surface member to provide the aforesaid reinforcing joint members or ribs and to produce when fastened a secure interlocking connection between said two alternately-disposed cap and trough-forming members. The inner edges of the grooved portions of said tr0ughforming strip members 2 are adapted to be applied to and contact with the assembly-frame members and consequently will become a stiffening part of a prefabrication frame. Said troughforming surface members 2 and wide cap members 3 thus when alternated and assembled and securely fastened to gether as shown in Figs. 1 to 6 form a unit or section having a surface provided with a series of draining troughs that may be used as a roof unit and also, if desired, as a side unit, as shown in Fig. 7.

In said preferred embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6 the awning comprises, as shown in Fig. 2, a roof unit composed of cap and trough-forming strips 2 and 3 having fastener-receiving holes 2 3 transversely aligned with each other and frame members 4*, 4 4, 4 4 and 4 the transverse members 4 4 and 4 of which are aligned with said holes 2 3 for fastening the same to the interlocking joint of the cap and trough-forming strips 2 and 3, together with inde pendent side units or sections which comprise panel members 7 and 8 and side frame members 5, 5 6, 6

The intermediate and marginal transverse assembly frame members 4 4 and 4 extend horizontally beneath the roof section and may be securely fastened to the interlocking joint portions of the strip surface members by clips 9 comprising a short sectional trough-fitting portion 9 adapted to fit within inside trough 3 formed in said trough-forming strips 3 and provided integrally at opposite edges with flanges 9* having holes 9 aligned with the holes 2 3 in the interlocking joint members. Said flanges 9 are adapted to abut against the sides of said interlocking joint and to be fastened thereto by fastening elements such as clinchable rivets extending transversely through the holes 9 and through said aligned holes 2 3 in the interlocking joint members, and said clip also has integrally formed at one end of said grooved section a lon itudinally-extending tongue portion 9 adapted as more particularly shown in Fig. 5 to be bent and wrapped around a flange or like portion of a transverse frame member 4 4 or 4 and thus to securely lock said transverse frame member to the interlocking joints of said surface in reinforcing position.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, however, I utilize fastening elements shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18 comprising a double-looped or hooked fastening element 10 comprising an intermediate body or trunk portion 10 and loops or hooks 10 and 10 extending from said body or trunk portion at right angles to each other, one of said loops or hooks 10 being adapted to engage and connect with aligned holes in the interlocking joint members and the other being bent around and engaging with a flange of a transverse frame member 4 or 4' to securely lock said transverse frame member to the interlocking joint members.

The prefabricated roof section is preferably provided with a flashing member 11. The inclined flange member of the flashing member is fitted over the upper transverse edge of the cover members of the roof section and suitably fastened to the awning at such upper edge. Said prefabricated roof section 2 extends downwardly in inclined position over and is supported upon the inclined edge of the side members I", each of which comprises panel sections 7 and 8 and frame members 5, 5 and 6, 6

The strip members 2 and 3 extend in inclined position the full length of the inclined roof section to and over the transverse frame members 4. These cap and trough-forming strip members 2 and 3 are then bent into vertical position to provide a fringe section 1 which may be connected with and fastened to the transverse frame member 4 by clips of similar construction to the clip 9 except that the tongue is bent to engage the vertically-disposed flange of the frame member 4 or, as preferred, may be connected by fastening elements 10, such as shown in Figs. 16, 17 and 18.

A flashing member 12 preferably of the shape shown in cross-section in Fig. 13, is composed of a verticallydisposed strip 12 doubled upon itself to provide a vertical rigid flange having a screw hole 12 for attachment to the building and also preferably being provided with spaced inclined fastening flange members 12 and 12 adapted to receive one edge of the prefabricated roof section and to be fastened in any suitable manner to the window frame or other part of the building to be shaded.

The downwardly-projecting, vertically-disposed fringe section 1' is formed integrally with the inclined section by cutting V-shaped notches in the interlocking edge members of the strips 2 and 3 at a suitable location near the ends thereof and then bending the end portions of said strips to form an integral connection as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In Figs. 7 to 15, I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the cap strips 14 are in all respects similar in shape to the strip 2 of the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, including body portions 14 and edge flange members which comprise one element of an interlocking joint but the trough-forming strips each comprise an inverted member (see particularly Figs. 7, 9 and 14) having a body portion 14 provided at its opposite longitudinal edges with triple-ply edge portions comprising interlocking members 14 and forming with said body portion an upwardly-disposed trough. Said interlocking edge members provide flange-receiving grooves 15 into which flanges 14 of the cap strip 14 are adapted to fit in order to provide rigid interlocking joints.

The flanges 14 of the cap strips 14 are provided with fastening holes 14 and the interlocking joint portions 15 of the trough-strips 15 are provided with aligned holes 15 The transverse frame member 16 is positioned in transverse alignment with said holes 14 and 15 and, as shown in Figs. 14 and 15, said frame member 16 extends transversely beneath the interlocking joints and is securely fastened thereto by fastening elements 17 comprising a bolt 17 having a bent joint engaging portion 17 provided with a terminal rivet head and nut and screw portions 17 17 adapted to connect the portion 16 of the member 16 securely to the interlocking joints of the cap and trough-forming members 14 and 15, respectively.

In said form of the invention shown in Figs. 7 to 16, the transverse marginal frame member 16 is similarly connected by bolt 17 as shown in Fig. 12.

In said last-mentioned embodiment, the terminal end portions 14 of the members 14 and 15, instead of being cut at right angles to the body portions, are bevelled as shown at 14 in Fig. 11 so as to permit ventilation or passage of air from the inside to the outside of the awning. Similar bevelled ends l4- are preferably at all end connections. The side cap members are also preferably provided with struck-up louvers 18 for the same purpose.

In Figs. 19, 20 and 21 I have shown modified forms of cap and trough-forming members. Thus in Fig. 19 I have shown a construction substantially similar to the construction shown in Figs. 7 to 14 except that a triple interlocking groove-forming edge-portion is formed on the cap strip 20 and single flanges are formed on the trough-forming strip 21. In Fig. 20 I have shown another modified form which is in all respects similar to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 except that the interlocking groove-forming edge portion is formed on the cap strip 22 and the single flange is formed on the troughforming strip 23.

In Fig. 21 I have shown still another modified form which is in all respects similar to the forms shown in Figs. 1 to 6 except that the strip 23 is provided with short flanges 24 and the strip 25 is provided with longer interlocking members 26 to cause the grooves in the awning surface to be formed over the Wide flanged members 23. In othe respects the constructions shown in Figs. 19 to 21 are similar to that hereinabove described.

Having described my invention, I claim:

I. In an awning structure embodying a surface section composed of a series of elongated strips comprising alternate cap strips and trough strips having on each edge an integral downwardly-turned edge flange, the edge flanges of alternate strips being of lesser depth than the flanges of strips on opposite sides thereof, the flanges of alternate strips being provided with outwardly and upwardly-bent edge portions forming upwardlyopening flange-receiving grooves, and the flanges of the strips on opposite sides thereof being provided with straight edges extending in assembled condition to the bottom of said grooves and engaging opposite surfaces thereof, said flanged strips being formed to enable initial assembly in aligned, parallel, abutting and connected relationship to produce a cap and trough awning surface composed of strips having flanges formed into a series of interengaging longitudinally-extending joints comprising stitfening members, each formed of three plys of metal in abutting contact, and means for fastening said interengaged abutting flanges to each other.

2. In an awning structure embodying a surface section composed of a series of elongated strips comprising alternate cap strips and trough strips having on each edge an integral downwardly-turned edge flange, the edge flanges of alternate strips being of lesser depth than the flanges of strips on opposite sides thereof, the flanges of alternate strips being provided with outwardly and upwardly-bent edge portions forming upwardly-opening flange-receiving grooves, and the flanges of the strips on opposite sides thereof being provided with straight edges extending in assembled condition to the bottom of said grooves and engaging opposite surfaces thereof, said flanged strips being formed to enable initial assembly in aligned, parallel, abutting and connected relationship to produce a cap and trough awning surface composed of strips having flanges formed into a series of interengaging longitudinally-extending joints comprising stifiening members, each formed of three plys of metal in abutting contact, said three ply interengaging joints having the bottom surfaces thereof disposed in transverse alignment with each other and the engaged portions of the grooved flange and straight flange in each interengaging joint having fastener-receiving holes disposed in registration with each other, angle-iron frame members disposed in abutment with said interengaging joints and in transverse alignment with a series of said registering holes, and independent fastener elements between each joint and a frame member comprising bent-wire members extending transversely through registering holes in the abutting flanges of said interengaging joint and having a fastening connection with said transverse frame members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,956,850 Bishop May 1, 1935 2,095,434 Calkins Oct. 12, 1937 2,557,775 Yancho June 19, 1951 2,562,092 Harrison June 24, 1951 2,632,213 Manley Mar. 24, 1953 2,644,990 Smith July 14, 1953 

